[0:00] of bringing some messages from this verse, verses 6 and 7, about these titles given to the Messiah. And I never made it through that series at all because I got stuck on the first one for three weeks, and so I just gave up with that and let it sit.
[0:18] And I came back and revisited it two years later and decided that I'll just give you a quick little brush through of that and then continue into the next one.
[0:28] So follow with me in verses number 6 and 7, Isaiah chapter 9, this prophecy of one day a Christ or a Messiah being born.
[0:40] Verse 6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
[0:57] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever.
[1:11] The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Now this child that's born, it shows the humanity of Jesus Christ.
[1:22] He's a child born. Born of a virgin. But he's also a son that's given. It shows the deity of Jesus Christ both in these two phrases.
[1:34] He's the son of God given. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And so in these two phrases you see both the humanity and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[1:46] And the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful. Now you should have a comma after Wonderful in your Bible. If you don't, then you've got something wrong.
[1:57] New versions have taken that out and decided that that first title is Wonderful Counselor. As if it's one thing. And it's not. It's two. And your Bible, the King James Bible, gives us a distinction.
[2:11] That his name shall be called Wonderful. And secondly, Counselor. And the first thing that we studied, this is going back two years. And as I was intending on that first sermon to be about his name being called Wonderful.
[2:25] I intended it for me on Wednesday night. It turned out to be three weeks of this very thought. That wonderful means full of wonder. It does not mean like, oh, that's neat and fancy and that's a wonderful dress.
[2:38] Or those shoes are. It doesn't mean that's so insignificant compared to what his name is. It means full of wonder. And it causes one to be astonished. To consider.
[2:51] And that's what his name is going to be called Wonderful. Because everything about him causes man to wonder. And to be in surprise. I went through this and I'll just briefly go through this.
[3:04] There was first the wonder of his birth. How his birth was announced by a multitude of the heavenly host. How there was a guiding star appearing in the night sky drawing men to that region.
[3:16] There's nothing normal about the birth of Jesus Christ. All the prophecies. All of this coming true of this one. The probability is literally out of this world. It's actually out of this universe.
[3:28] To put together all those prophecies coming true about one. There's an absolute wonder of his birth. In that time you read that they wondered. They didn't understand what was going on.
[3:41] Secondly, we studied the wonder of his condescension or of his incarnation. That is, that God became man. This is the illustration I gave you.
[3:51] It was really kind of weird. But it kind of fits. I said, can you imagine if Steve Jobs, who is deceased. But Steve Jobs, the founder, creator of Apple products.
[4:03] If he himself became an iPhone. That's just kind of weird to even consider that. Because a human being taking on something that he created and fashioned. And in his mind designed.
[4:14] But God is not a human being. God is not flesh. God is a spirit. An eternal Holy Spirit. Almighty Spirit. For him to take on something that he made and fashioned.
[4:27] And created and conceived. There's a wonder of his incarnation. That God became a man. It's called the mystery of godliness. Thirdly, we studied the wonder of his character.
[4:40] Who but the Lord Jesus Christ could say, which of you convinces me of sin? Who could say that? He was a holy man. Not a single flaw in his conduct in private or public.
[4:53] The Bible says he knew no sin. There was fourthly the wonder of his person. That he was human. Yet he was divine. A total paradox in a sense.
[5:05] A mind-boggling paradox that a man is God. The wonder of his person. Nothing special about his appearance.
[5:15] But then to see him by his own words. Tell the wind and waves to just knock it off. And it obeyed him. They said, what manner of man is this? There's that wonder.
[5:26] They wondered. There's also the wonder of his words. How he spake with authority. How he stumped the doctors. How he stumped the lawyers. How he was never tangled in his words.
[5:40] And even as we'll see today at 12 years old. They were just astonished. There's the wonder of his works. To the blind he said, receive your sight. To the lame he said, rise up and walk.
[5:51] Look, men wondered and marveled. And they were amazed. And they were astonished at all of his works. Saying, is this the carpenter's son? It just didn't add up to them. Then there was the wonder of his death.
[6:03] Those that knew him and walked with him and followed him. They even quoted by saying they thought it should have been him that would deliver Israel. And now he's dead. It didn't make any sense.
[6:15] And in the narrative of scripture, no one saw this coming. Then there's the wonder of his resurrection. Everything about this person, this man, is a wonder.
[6:26] The wonder of his resurrection. The ladies come running back to the disciples. And it says that they just seemed like idle tales. What they were saying with their excitement and their questioning.
[6:37] Then the disciples go and it talks of Peter at the grave wondering in himself at that which has come to pass. This was a wonder. And then lastly, the wonder of his saving power.
[6:49] That through his blood and the offering of his body we find forgiveness, cleansing, redemption, justification, eternal life.
[7:00] What a wonder to look on Jesus Christ and consider. Now his name shall be called Wonderful. And that's a very fitting title to this Messiah. But secondly, and we'll study this today.
[7:12] His name shall be called Counselor. Did you ever pause reading through that verse or hearing it in song in Handel's Messiah?
[7:23] Did you ever pause and consider that phrase, that term counselor? Being given to the child that was born, to the son that was given. That his name, this designation for the Messiah is counselor.
[7:37] Has that ever rung true to you? Well maybe today we'll think on that a little bit today. The word shows up 13 times or other times in the Bible and it's a reference to a position. It's not just a reference to somebody who talks or has ideas.
[7:50] But a position that is held by a very wise and a very prudent man. The position denotes honor. It denotes rank. It is one who guided and instructed and advised leaderships over the years.
[8:06] It's a reference to David. It's a reference to David having counselors of Ahithophel for one. A wise counselor. And that's a term thrown around in the Old Testament. That these men in leadership and power, typically a king, had a counselor or more than one counselor.
[8:22] And so the term expresses that position and it expresses wisdom. It expresses discernment, understanding, and leadership. And the first thing I want us to think on today, I want to establish something, is that Jesus Christ is the counselor.
[8:39] He is the counselor and no one else is. And I want to establish this and then we'll try to make some practical thought and application to this. Turn to Luke chapter 2. Turn to Luke chapter 2 and I want to establish from the Bible that Jesus Christ is the counselor.
[8:57] Luke chapter 2.
[9:27] It says, The child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon him.
[9:39] The child was filled with wisdom. Now you parents in here, as you look back or even today look upon your children, would you ever say, that child is filled with wisdom.
[9:57] They just teach me at every turn. Isn't it more likely that a child is filled with folly? And you have to say, no, thou shalt not.
[10:10] Don't touch that. Don't walk out there. Don't partake in that. Don't watch those. Don't we always tell them what they shouldn't do? When do we ever say a child is filled with wisdom?
[10:23] He's already separated himself. Being filled with wisdom. Now in this next passage in Luke, his parents find him at about 12 years old back there in Jerusalem.
[10:34] When you recall the story, they took off without him and they went back to Jerusalem seeking him. And look at, oh, verse number 46. It came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
[10:53] And verse 47 says that all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. So not only is he listening to their discussions and discourse and debates over scripture, he's also asking questions about what that passage is and what it says here.
[11:15] And well, what about this? And he's bringing thought to them that they'd never considered being doctors of the law. And this 12-year-old boy sitting among them in the temple, they're astonished at, number one, his understanding.
[11:32] This kid gets it. He gets some things that I, I mean, he's putting out thoughts, questions I've never even put together. And then it says also his answers. So could it be that they'd in turn asked the question back to him?
[11:46] And he responded with scripture, with a connection they never made? Who is this 12-year-old boy sitting in the temple? Where did he come from?
[12:00] A year ago, two years ago, five years ago, a hundred years ago, there's never been a child, never been a man that came in here and did what a 12-year-old's doing.
[12:11] I want to establish that Jesus Christ is the counselor. This is just a snapshot of him at his 12th year. He's not even close to getting started here.
[12:23] He is the counselor. As counselor to the nation of Israel, when he comes on the scene early in the book of Matthew, the Bible says he taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes.
[12:37] What a difference. The Lord Jesus, the Bible says he opened his mouth and taught them. And as he taught, multitudes appeared in town after town after town.
[12:49] The people came and flocked to hear his words. He is the counselor to Israel. They were drawn to his truth and to his wisdom. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, and he said that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ were, quote, wholesome words.
[13:06] And he said that they were doctrine according to knowledge. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians, and he said, If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.
[13:19] His name shall be called Counselor, because he showed up declaring the truth. He didn't declare the opinions of the elders and of the Pharisees, and of the scribes, and of his father, and of the Nazarenes.
[13:33] He declared truth as he received from his father. John said he was full of grace and truth. John wrote that the law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
[13:50] He was an incredible teacher, an incredible counselor. The methods he used as you study through his ministry. He was a teacher that could put things that were so high and above their heads right down on their plates, using methods of illustration, of stories, of analogies and similitudes, illustrating everything of heavenly truth in parable form.
[14:16] He was truly the counselor. The Samaritans were fortunate to hear his words, and they declared, quote, we have heard him ourselves and know that this is the Christ, the Savior of the world, when they heard his words.
[14:31] His instructions, his teachings were right, but they weren't always received. As a matter of fact, there was many that followed him up to a point, and in John chapter 6, he declared some truths to them that they just said, I don't know about that, or that's a little bit out there.
[14:49] You're kind of getting a little strange to us, and it says that from that time, some of his disciples went back and followed him no more. And a very interesting nugget in your King James Bible is that that verse is in John chapter 6, verse 66.
[15:05] And where that 666 shows up in the Bible, there's disciples that aren't following him anymore. They're going back. And there's a little nugget to connect to Hebrews and to the tribulation there as well.
[15:17] But nevertheless, they received his instructions, but not always. He claimed that his words were given from the Father. Jesus Christ said, as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
[15:28] He said, I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. And then declared, he that is of God heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because you're not of God.
[15:41] The problem's not with his words, with his counsel or instruction. The problem's with the people. He counseled men of their condition, of their need for repentance. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
[15:55] He counseled men to eternal life, saying, if a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. He counseled Israel of their coming kingdom, and of God's expectation for those who would enter the kingdom.
[16:09] The standard that God would set forth for that living. He counseled them of the coming judgment, in their rejection of that kingdom, and their king. He even counseled of the night of crucifixion, of this light, when he said, weep not for me, weep for yourselves.
[16:27] Knowing what's coming ahead. His name shall be called Counselor. The Bible says, never man spake like this man. His disciples said after, in Luke 24, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and opened us, or opened to us the scriptures.
[16:49] All that bear witness, and all bear witness, and wondered, at the gracious words, which proceeded out of his mouth. The Bible says, when they heard these words, they marveled.
[17:02] Again, when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. Jesus Christ is the Counselor. All of his words were in truth. His opponents could not refute, and rebut the truth of his words.
[17:17] They could only just offer cheap attacks. We're not born of fornication, was one of their little low life attacks on him, little cheap shots. But they couldn't refute what he said.
[17:30] No man was able to answer him a word. The Lord Jesus Christ is, without a doubt, the Counselor. The one and only Counselor, without question.
[17:40] And if that's enough for you to establish, that he is in fact the Counselor, that should come to Israel. If he meets the requirements, and he passes the test, and he is in fact the Christ, being fully credible, and worthy of the title, then let me now ask some questions to you.
[18:00] Number one, is he your Counselor? Counselor. Is he your Counselor? His name shall be called Counselor. That's something that he embodies.
[18:14] He's a Savior. Amen. And praise God for the saving grace found in Jesus Christ. But he's a Counselor. That's not the same hat. Is he your Counselor?
[18:26] I'm not asking if he's your Savior. Is he your Counselor? Is he your go-to for wisdom? For discernment? For what should I do? For instruction?
[18:38] For answers that you need? For questions that you have? Do you go to Christ? He's the Counselor. You ought to go to him.
[18:51] Is he your Counselor? He's not your Counselor if you don't know him. And if he's not your personal Savior, he's not your Counselor. He's not your Counselor if you don't go to him in prayer and spend time on your knees.
[19:05] He's not your Counselor. He's not your Counselor if you don't have a personal relationship with him. Some people seek to the stars. And that's nothing new.
[19:16] That's in the Bible. They're monthly prognosticators. They're astrologers or astronomers. I always get them mixed up. They're the same. Some people look to the stars for something to show them light, for some interpretation.
[19:34] Others call the number that's on their screen for advice, for counsel, and for instruction. Other people have a therapist on speed dial. If speed dial's even a thing anymore, I guess we all have everybody on speed dial.
[19:48] Nobody does that anymore. Their therapist, I know I've got to call my therapist. Others, they'll look to anybody. Anybody at all who's successful.
[19:59] If they're successful, then they must know something. It drives me insane to see celebrities propped up, running their mouths.
[20:10] I can't stand it. I can't stand it. Somebody who has a sheet of paper and looks in the mirror at themselves and says a line and says no, and says a line another way, and it changes their demeanor, their demeanor, and ah, that's the way I'll do it.
[20:27] Somebody who's a fraud in their life as far as actor and portraying things, who cares what you think? Don't think for a minute that when they're standing in front of the camera that they haven't rehearsed that one in the mirror as well.
[20:41] Don't believe a celebrity. Don't go to them for their advice or opinions. Some people will go to anybody with a website or a YouTube channel seeking advice.
[20:52] Look at 1 John chapter 5. 1 John chapter 5. This is a verse I want to plug in right here because some will go to anybody that they perceive has something to say.
[21:07] But we have a counselor. We have somebody that we can trust and we can go to. Is he your counselor? 1 John chapter 5 and notice in verse 19 and 20.
[21:20] 1 John 5 verse 19. And we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness. So I'm not going to be interested in anything they prop up and promote to me.
[21:33] Verse 20. And we know that the Son of God has come. Amen. And hath given us an understanding. Amen. That we may know Him that is true and we are in Him that is true.
[21:50] Even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. I wonder is He the one you go to then? Because He has come and He has given us an understanding.
[22:04] But are we ignoring all of that? When times get tough? When we have questions? Some people will pray to Mary. Why? Why? Why in the world would anybody pray to Mary?
[22:17] There is not one verse in this Bible in the record of truth of Scripture that has anybody seeking anything from Mary or that exalts her.
[22:29] The Lord Jesus Christ said no man cometh unto the Father but by me. The Bible says there is one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus.
[22:42] Why would anybody pray to Mary? Why would anybody say she is a mediatrix? She is not absorbed with the problems of society or persons individuals.
[22:58] She doesn't care. She can't. She has no ability to. Why would anybody pray to Mary? She is powerless. Some people will consult a priest.
[23:10] I don't know why they do that. Jesus Christ said come unto me. Come unto me. Have you? Jesus Christ said you must be born again.
[23:22] That was some good counsel. He counseled man to a new birth. A spiritual birth. A renewal. A quickening. Where they could now be of God.
[23:32] Be born of God. And he invites man to come unto him. Have you come unto him? Have you been born again? Have you sought his counsel that pertains to the eternal destiny of your soul?
[23:47] If not whose counsel are you following? Jesus Christ said follow me.
[23:58] Follow me. That's good counsel. So think about it. Is he your counselor? He is if you're following what he's told you.
[24:09] What he's declared. If not he's not your counselor. You'll have questions. We'll all have questions in life and from the young all the way up all through these different stages of decisions of pursuing a career or a job or a move or a spouse.
[24:30] And those are some big decisions there to be made. Is he your counselor? There's questions that come up. Are you looking for the answer? You need a flawless perfect counselor that cares for you and that knows what's best for you and what is right.
[24:49] Decisions involving your career or your family or even ministry and serving God. You need someone that can counsel you right. The Bible says in Proverbs 8 the Lord says counsel is mine.
[25:04] Counsel is mine. It's what I do. Come to me. God knows what's right. Is he your counselor? Everybody in life is going to be faced with decisions.
[25:16] Everybody. It's the nature of it. And you can lean on your parents for so long and then you can lean sadly on your friends. Some people tend to drift from their parents to their friends.
[25:27] You remember Rehoboam? He took the counsel of the young men that were with him. Some people will lend their ears to others' counsel.
[25:38] But is Jesus Christ your counselor? And then secondly one more thought here with this. Do you heed? Do you heed his counsel?
[25:49] Come back to Proverbs chapter 22. Is he your counselor? Have you established that? Number one I tried to establish from the Bible that he is in fact the counselor that was promised.
[26:05] He's the one. He deserves and bears that title and is worthy of it. He owns it. Jesus Christ is the counselor. But then is he your counselor?
[26:18] Will you take your problems to him? Will you take your questions to him? Will you go straight to him when you need an answer? And then secondly will you heed his counsel?
[26:28] Not just consider it but will you obey it? In Proverbs 22 and verse 19 the Bible says that thy trust may be in the Lord.
[26:40] I have made known to thee this day even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things and counsels and knowledge that I may make thee know the certainty of the words of truth?
[26:53] And the implied answer is yes Lord you did. You have written to me excellent things in counsels and knowledge and I can know for certainty the words of truth and I know for certainty by faith the words of God's truth.
[27:14] I believe the counsels of God have been written in a book. I believe that book is available and attainable to me. I can read and learn the counsels of God.
[27:26] He warns in this book of the counsel of the ungodly. He warns of the counsel of the heathen and even the secret counsel of the wicked. I mentioned Rehoboam him following the counsels of his friends and all of these things are propped up and warned and put in front of us as a warning.
[27:44] Don't go that way. Don't listen to that. Don't give your ear to this. As the proverb says my son give me thine heart let thine ear attain unto wise counsels.
[27:56] Look at chapter one in Proverbs. Chapter one. People will reject the counsels of God. I'm asking you do you heed his counsel?
[28:10] Here's a group that rejected his advice and his counsel and I'll start in verse 23. Proverbs 1 23 Turn you at my reproof.
[28:21] Behold I will pour out my spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand but no man regarded but ye have set at naught all my counsel and would none of my reproof.
[28:39] Is that your case? God is willing to make known his words to you but you're refusing it and you just have no interest and no delight in what he said.
[28:52] The end for you gets ugly from there on it gets bad and in verse 30 he repeats it they would none of my counsel and despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.
[29:09] Man cannot ignore and reject the counsel of God without it resulting in destruction either of his soul or of his life or of his mind. My question is do you heed his counsel?
[29:24] Turn to Ezekiel I want to take you to one place here Ezekiel 14 and the prophet Ezekiel that's that's a very interesting and illuminating passage because when it comes to getting an answer from God I wanted to point this out regarding heeding his counsel there's a side of this that some people are guilty of and it is that they'll approach God seeking for him to bless their desires and their thoughts basically you just want God's permission more than you want his answer and his will for your life there's a difference between say the apostle Paul in Acts chapter 9 when he is converted he meets Jesus Christ and he says Lord what will thou have me to do he's not seeking permission to do this or that now it's just what do you want me to do and what
[30:26] Paul got was exact direction and he followed it explicitly but there's another side to that some people approach God just looking for permission to do what they want to do and be careful if he's your counselor be careful that you're actually looking for his will and direction not just your will watch in Ezekiel 14 verse number one then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me the prophet and sat before me and the word of the Lord came unto me saying son of man these men have set up their idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face should I be inquired of at all by them you understand what's going on they've they've got sin and iniquity in them they're not willing to release that and to get right with God they've got sin in their hearts already and they're coming to inquire of God and the Lord says should I even let them talk to me and here's what he says verse 4 therefore speak unto them and say unto them thus saith the
[31:33] Lord God every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart that putteth a stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and cometh to the prophet I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart because they are all estranged from me through their idols he commands them to repent and to separate themselves and he says if they come inquire of me I'll answer myself look at verse 8 I will set my face against that man and I will make him a sign and a problem will cut him off from the midst of my people and they shall know that I am the Lord and if the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing I the Lord have deceived that prophet oh dear the problem is people come into God with something set up in their heart of what they want and just saying God what's wrong with this and seeking him to bless that and to bless their motives and their desires and I'm warning you and asking you do you heed his counsel you're not if you're looking for just his permission to go live your life the way you want to live it or making that statement that so many
[32:45] Christians do there's nothing wrong with it be careful do you heed his counsel are you following the word of God the scriptures excellent counsels and knowledge are you following that as the standard for your life for what's right and what's wrong for what you believe and for what you refuse and for how you can please God his name shall be called counselor it's a title of honor it's a title that conveys wisdom and it conveys truth the counsel of the Lord God is the only counsel that is worthy and deserving of our attention and of our obedience it's the only counsel worthy to consult when number one when your soul is on the line heaven or hell or whether decisions need to be made in life and who you'll follow Jesus Christ is the counselor we establish that but is he your personal counselor and if so then are you following his counsel are you following his word
[33:57] I trust and I I'll have to ask you have you followed his words of salvation have you personally done that not not the pew behind you or to your left or right but you before God almighty have you followed his words of salvation if your mom has praise the Lord if your grandmother has praise the Lord but have you are you saved Jesus Christ said he that believeth on me hath everlasting life have you believed on Jesus Christ for your salvation but then secondly Christian then are you following the words of scripture to guide your life to guide every decision you need to make or are you just ignoring it and it's it's discouraging how many Christians are just ignoring it and just feel like I'll just wing it because I'm not going to live wicked like they are I've been taught better than that but I'm not really going to follow it either
[34:58] I'll just wing it I'll just see how it goes and if you follow this Bible you'll find out that's going to fail Jesus Christ is wonderful his name shall be called wonderful he's deserving of that title for sure but he's also deserving and holds the title of counselor don't neglect that don't overlook what that is that's that is gold for you and I to have somebody who will direct us who we can go to immediately and who will instruct us in his word in righteous ways I know that you won't have every answer that you seek just immediately it's not going to come through as a text when you want it to all the time but he's your counselor nonetheless and if you trust him and believe he's right and submit to it and be willing to he'll get you the answer I believe it's God's duty as God to direct our lives and not in the sense that
[36:02] God you have to tell me but I believe it if he's God and if he's my God then it's part of what comes with this relationship is that he's going to direct me it may not be as I expect and it may not be as I want but if I'm willing to he will give me the counsel and the right advice in the right direction and if you have a question go to him first go to him first whether it's for salvation or for day-to-day decisions and direction make him your counselor let's bow our heads and we'll be dismissed here in a moment as we bow our heads I wonder this morning